Chapter 12 - Open Space 12.0 Open Space 12.1 Introduction This section of the Plan is concerned with the sustainable management of resources insofar as they relate to open space or the reserve areas of the Marlborough Sounds. Approximately 60% of the land area covered by the Plan is in public ownership. Generally, this land is protected under the Reserves Act 1977 and a large proportion of it is administered by the Department of Conservation. The Council also has responsibilities for reserve management. Open space is important for recreation activities, conservation values and landscape or visual reasons. In addition open space areas often exhibit high levels of natural character, this being identified as a matter of national importance under section 6 of the Act. The substantial open space resource which exists in the Marlborough Sounds is a significant contributor to the wellbeing of both Marlburians and visitors to the area. It also provides protection for important habitats and ecosystems. Many localities within the Marlborough Sounds planning area are important for a vast range of recreation activities. Areas are numerous but some of the widely recognisable ones are the Queen Charlotte Track and the Queen Charlotte Sound area as a whole, outer Sounds, reserve areas in the Pelorus Sound such as Tennyson Inlet and the walkway through to Nydia Bay, Pelorus Bridge in the hinterland and the Mt_Richmond State Forest Park. Important also, are the smaller reserve areas located in the urban areas such as the Picton Foreshore Reserve and local parks. 12.2 Issue The need to provide sufficient and suitable open space to meet the present and future recreational, conservation and landscape needs of the community to enable their wellbeing; and The need to ensure that open space is used, developed and protected in accordance with sustainable management principles. Provision of open space is covered in Chapter 23 Subdivision and Development, relating closely to Council’s Reserves Management Strategy. The means to ensure that adequate provision of open space is obtained include: reserve contributions on subdivision; financial contributions for developments; and through Council works and acquisitions in the form of Annual Plan commitments. New open space requirements include conservation reserves, coastal or esplanade reserves, neighbourhood parks, sports facility parks, linkage or access reserves and utility areas for Council or other public works. The management of reserve land in terms of the Act requirements (ie; sustainable management) is the subject of this chapter of the Plan. Integrated management of the resources contained within reserve land comes under the control of the Conservation Act 1987 and the Reserves Act 1977. The general intent of the Plan is not to repeat management processes but to only pick up those matters requiring control under the Act which are not covered under other legislation. 12 - 1